About 500 places identified for groundwater management projects in Manipur

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 25 (EMN): Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday informed that about 500 places have been identified for groundwater management projects in Manipur and for which project cost amounting to INR 275 crore has been submitted to the ministry.

He said that about 280 check dams will be constructed along streams at different foothills for drinking and irrigation purposes. In this regard, a project cost of about INR 475 crore has been submitted to the ministry.

The chief minister was speaking at the farm machineries and equipments distribution programme at the Iboyaima Sumang Leela Shanglen in Imphal.

About 139 machineries and equipments including tractors, power tillers, reapers, threshers, mini-rice mills and other tools were distributed to selected beneficiaries under the sub mission of agricultural mechanisation or SMAM for 2019-20.

“There is economic growth in the state and Manipur is marching ahead as the rate of gross state domestic product has increased drastically in last few years,” he said.

Highlighting the rising demand for an exotic rice variety called “Chak-hao” outside the state, he exhorted the farmers to give their efforts to increase its production to cater to the demands.

Stressing on the importance of proper irrigation facilities to increase food grain production, the chief minister said Thoubal Multipurpose Project will be completed soon and it will provide irrigation facility to different areas of the state.

The chief minister said that the government will give priority to the development of tourism, agriculture and horticulture sectors this year.

According to the reports, around 10,000 foreign tourists and 1.5 lakh domestic tourists have visited the state in a year, he said.

He reiterated that the state government fully endorsed the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’ to bring inclusive development to the state.

Apart from the welfare schemes launched by the central government, the state government has also introduced various welfare schemes for the people. The government opens its door 24x7 to extend every possible support to uplift the lives of the people, he added.

Also, Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian informed that the government has introduced various schemes to doubling agricultural production by the year 2022. He called for collective efforts to increase agricultural production.